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TRACTION WHEEL.

Patented Sept. 20

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ALMEBIN H. LIGHTHALL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

TRACTION-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,203, da.ted September 20, 1881.

Application filed March 5, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALMERIN'H. LIGHT- HALL, a citizen of the United States, and residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TractiQn-YVheels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in traction-wheels for road-engines, harvestingmachines, 850.; and the objects of myimprovements are to provide a wheel constructed entirely of iron, in the manner shown, and provided with an interior band of T-iron, which forms a bearing-surface, upon which the shoes of a brake may be pressed and, secondly, in providing the bearing-surface of the tread with shoes or projections so constructed and arranged that the toe or point of one shoe will engage with the surface of the earth before the heel of the one preceding itleaves the ground.

In the drawings hereunto annexed, and in which similar letters of reference are used to v designate like parts throughout the several views, Figure l is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section; and Fig. 3isafront view, showing three of the shoes in place.

The tire or tread A of the wheel is formed of a broad, flat piece of plate-iron, bent into a circular form, and having riveted upon its outer face pieces of angle-iron B, bent into the form shown in Fig. 3. These pieces are so laid on that the toe of one piece projects a short distance beyond a line drawn from heel to heel of the shoe immediately preceding it, the object of this construction being to insure a continuous hold or gripe of the shoes upon the surface of the ground over which the machine is drawn or propelled, and also prevent settling down in the soil.

Near either edge of the inner face of the tire A, I rivet a band of angle-iron, C, which serves to strengthen the tire of the wheel, and also forms a bearing, to which the spokes D are riveted. The spokes may be of flat iron, but

I prefer to construct them of T-iron, with the web projecting inwardly. The inner ends of these spokes enter recesses formed in either end of the solid metal hub, and are then riveted. By this construction it will be seen that all strain is taken off the rivet or bolt, as the end of the spoke rests against the solid metal and the sides of the recess form a support for the end of the spoke, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

To the outer set of spokes is riveted a circular band of T-iron. The rivets pass through the flange thereof and enter the spokes. The inner surface of the web of this T-iron forms a bearing-surface for the shoes of a brake to press against, and the outer face of the web will form a bearing-surface, against which the shoes of an auxiliary brake may be pressed, if so desired.

The hub F is constructed of cast-iron, and the outer ends are mortised to receive the flange of the T-iron of which the spokes are composed, while the web thereof binds against the periphery of the hub, thus insuring great strength and solidity of construction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

In a traction-wheel, the combination, with the band of flat iron A,strengthened by bands of angle-iron C, and provided with V-shaped angle-irons or shoes-B, of the spokes D, and inner band of angle-iron, E, the interior web of which forms a bearing-surface, against which the shoes of a brake may press, while the exterior of said web also forms a bearing-surface for the shoes of an auxiliary brake, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I clainrthe foregoing I l have hereunto set ,my hand and seal this 20th day of January, 1881.

ALMERIN H. LIGHTHALTA. [L. s.] Witnesses:

C. W. M. SMITH, CHAS. E. KELLY. 

